We’ve had a number of posts about the installation and maintenance of ductless split systems over the past couple of months. We’ve also outlined some of the advantages of installing a ductless split system over a central air conditioner. What we haven’t really done, though, is gone through the biggest advantage of ductless split systems in detail. That advantage is the ability to serve as both a heating and air conditioning system. Let’s take a look at how a ductless split system can accomplish this.
Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’
The Biggest Advantage of Ductless Split Systems
Monday, July 20th, 2015Why Your Air Conditioner Might be Short Cycling
Monday, June 15th, 2015One of the biggest problems to afflict air conditioners is short cycling. This is when your air conditioner keeps turning itself on and off every few minutes. While this may seem more annoying than dangerous, it can actually cause catastrophic damage to the system if allowed to continue for a length of time.
Improving Your Air Conditioning with Zone Control
Monday, June 1st, 2015As summer gets closer and closer, more and more people are going to start using their central air conditioners to keep cool. As great as central air conditioning is, though, it has its share of disadvantages. Central AC suffers from its “one size fits all” approach to home cooling. It can cool all of the home, or none of it; there is no variance at all. Unfortunately, this creates hot and cold spots in many houses where rooms have differences in insulation. It also means that the system wastes a lot of output on empty rooms. Fortunately, there is a solution to these disadvantages. Read on to find out more about the benefits of zone control.
How Duct Sealing Will Improve Your Air Conditioner Efficiency
Monday, May 25th, 2015We’re just on the edge of summer, and more and more people are starting to run their air conditioners on a day-to-day basis. Most people probably made sure that their air conditioners were in good repair before the summer started. Maybe some even scheduled some preventive maintenance to make sure. What about the ducts, though? You probably haven’t thought about it, but the ducts in your home are just as important to keeping your air conditioner running efficiently as the system itself. Read on to find out more about how poor duct condition affects air conditioning, and how duct sealing can help improve it.
What Are the Differences Between Central and Ductless Air Conditioning?
Monday, May 18th, 2015For homeowners who are new to the market, it can be rather difficult to grasp how to differentiate between the various types of systems. For example, what are the differences between central and ductless air conditioning? Sure, ductless air conditioning doesn’t use ducts, but is that the only difference? And how does a ductless system cool a home if it doesn’t use ducts to transport air? Read on to find out the answers to all of these questions, and more besides.
Air Conditioning Problems to Be Aware Of
Monday, May 4th, 2015With the days starting to warm up, it is important to keep an eye on your air conditioner. Problems with the system are more likely to develop during times of increased stress, like during summer. The better able you are to recognize signs of an issue, the faster you’ll be able to get the problem fixed and the better off your air conditioner will be. Let’s take a look at some of the common air conditioning problems that you need to be aware of this summer.
Why You Should Consider Installing a Ductless Mini Split this Summer
Monday, April 20th, 2015With summer almost upon us, many homeowners have already repaired or replaced the air conditioners in their homes. If your current air conditioning system isn’t going to last another summer, you should consider replacing it with a ductless mini split system. Read on to find out more about what a ductless mini split system is, and the benefits it can provide.
Why You Should Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance This Spring
Monday, April 13th, 2015It may not seem like it yet, but summer is just around the corner. In just a few short weeks, the days will start to heat up, and keeping your home cool will become a high priority. Now, you may think that because your air conditioner hasn’t had any issues recently that it will be prepared for the onslaught of summer. That isn’t necessarily true, however.
3 Ways Heat Pump Installation Can Benefit You
Monday, April 6th, 2015As we move out of the winter season and into spring, people are starting to think less about their heating systems and more about their air conditioners. While it is totally understandable to become more focused on staying cool as the days get warmer, there is a way to address both heating and cooling concerns at once: installing a heat pump in your home. Let’s have a look at 3 of the ways that installing a heat pump can benefit you.
Heating and Cooling Modes
All heat pumps are capable of working in both heating and cooling modes. This is due to the way they operate, which involves evaporating and condensing refrigerant to move heat from one place to another. In heating mode, the heat pump will absorb thermal energy from the outside air and bring it inside to heat the home. In cooling mode, the heat pump reverses the flow of refrigerant to absorb heat from inside and release it outside. By installing a heat pump, you are saving thousands of dollars that would otherwise be spent on separate heating and cooling systems.
Energy Savings
Because a heat pump simply moves preexisting heat from one space to another, it has no need to burn any sort of fuel. This makes it one of the most energy-efficient heating systems on the market. A heat pump will pay for itself in savings within a few years of installation, after which any money saved on your heating bill goes directly into your pocket. If you’re looking for a way to lower your home’s operating costs, a heat pump is a great option.
Going “Green”
Any combustion-based system, especially one that uses natural gas, is going to create a number of byproducts that are then vented into the atmosphere during operation. These include the deadly gas carbon monoxide. A heat pump does not produce any of these gases, making it safe both for you and the environment.
If you would like to know more about heat pumps, call Shavitz Heating and Air Conditioning. We provide heat pump services throughout Chicago, IL.
How Do Air Conditioners Earn the Energy Star Sticker?
Friday, May 23rd, 2014When it comes to air conditioning in Glenview, IL, residents can’t take chances. Summers in the Midwest and be hot and humid, and a reliable air conditioner can be your best means of keeping your home cool and comfortable. When performing their duties, air conditioners should be as efficient as possible, a status that can be measured with the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. The higher the rating, the more efficient the air conditioner. The most efficient units earn the Energy Star sticker, a fast way to determine which units are the most energy efficient. How do air conditioners earn the Energy Star sticker? A quick primer can be found below.
The Energy Star sticker is issued by the U.S. Department of Energy in an effort to reduce our overall consumption of energy and promote green technologies. As of 2006, all new air conditioners need SEER ratings of at least 13 in order to be sold in the U.S., though older units could still maintain an older SEER rating. The Energy Star sticker, however, needed to represent a higher standard. Here in the northern half of the country, central air conditioners and air-source heat pups need a SEER rating of at least 14. If they were part of a split system using two or more forms of fuel, the standard is even higher: a 14.5 SEER rating in order to use the Energy Star Sticker.
If you don’t have a centralized system, the requirements are a little less stringent, since single-room heat pumps and air conditioners tend to be more efficient by default. (You can turn them off in parts of the house you aren’t using, which you can’t do with a centralized system.) Depending on their capacity, they need an EER of between 9.8 and 11.2 for air conditioners, 9.8 and 10.4 for heat pumps in order to get the sticker.
Regardless of how air conditioners earn the Energy Star sticker, those with the sticker can save you a great deal of money over their lifespan. If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, Glenview IL has the experts at Shavitz Heating & Air Conditioning to help. Contact us today to set up a consultation and let us show you what we can do!